Fireproof joint construction



July 26, 1932. c. J. BATES. JR

FIREPROOF JOINT CONSTRUCTION Filed May 6, 1931 i i I I I I i I Patented July 26, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES J. BATES, JR., OF ENGLEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE MOSLER SAFE COMPANY, OF HAMILTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF NE'VV YORK FIREPROOF JOINT CONSTRUCTION Application filed May 6,

This invention relates to vaults, safes and the likeand particularly to automatic means operating when heated to fill the clearance spaces between a door and the adjacent floor and walls, wherebythe vault or safe is rendered fireproof.

An object of the invention is to provide such means whereby fire outside the vault is precluded from entering, and fire within 1Q the vault is prevented from spreading to the exterior thereof.

Another object is to provide a fireproof vault doorwhich may yet be associated with a flat sill whereby the usual necessity of pro- 15, viding a difference in floor levels in order to secure a fireproof condition, is obviated.

Another object is to provide means of the class described which are simple in construction and efficient in operation.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein and set forth in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a horizontal cross-sectional view through a vault door constructed according 25 to the present invention,the adjacent portions of floor and wall being partially shown.

Fig. 2 isa cross-sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2, part being broken away.

The front wall of the vault with which the fireproof door of this invention is associated, may comprise the side vertical portions 5 of suitable grouting covered by a metallic casing 6 having spaced parallel sections 7 and 8 joined by the right angle section 9. Within the space formed exteriorly of sections 8 and 9 of the casing 6, insulation material 10 may be disposed, having the irregular casings 11 and 12 covering the outer faces thereof and adapted for interfitting association with the closed vault door, the lateral edges of which are of complementary formation. Casings 11 and 12 abut section 9 behind section 7 of easing 6, whereby an elongated shoulder or border 13 is provided on each casing '6.

The vault door 14 may be hinged, asat 15, upon a suitable support plate 16. The substantial portion of said door need not be of the specific, construction shown since the 1931. Serial No. 535,469.

fire resistance means comprised in this invent-ion may be associated with the more usual types of dors of which the one shown is an example, as regards the general characteristics thereof. As illustrated, the door comprises a front panel 17, rear panel 18, lateral plates 19 and 20, a suitable top edge plate (not shown) and a bottom edge plate 21, angularly formed along its front portion to provide, with panel 17, a channel 22. The bottom portion of plate 21 and bottom edges of panels 17 and 18 terminate short of the fiat sill 26 to permit free swinging of the door. Suitable filling or grouting 23, forming the body of the door, is disposed within the space provided by the panels and plates just described. The vault door likewise supports a suitable combination lock and mechanism 24 and a suitable bolt mechanism 25.

The fire resistance means at the front of the valut door is normally housed within the channel 22. Essentially, these means consist of a non-inflammable substance 27, such as vermiculite, which expands greatly under the influence of heat. This substance is normally disposed entirely within channel 22 but should the door become heated by fire occurring adjacent to or within the vault, the substance would expand beyond the open bottom of channel 22 and wedge tightly against sill 26, being obviously adapted to conform to any possible irregularities in the surface of the sill or floor. A suitable binder may be used in compounding the vermiculite, or similar substance.

The chief principle of this invention and a simple, operable adaptation thereof are explained in the preceding paragraph. How.- ever, as illustrated herein, the expansible filler is operative upon an upwadly-opening channel strip 28 positioned in the channel 22 and within which the filler 27 is disposed. Strip 28 is held in place by two or more endthreaded smooth-bodied bolts 29 seated within inverted cup members 30 the out-turned rims 31 of which bear against the borders of countersunk apertures 32 in the bottom 33 of strip 28. Bolt 29 is threadedly received in the upper face 34; of channel 22 and in a strip 35 disposed above and upon said face. Upon and adapted upon being heated to release the panel from the door, and means associated with the bottom of the door and adapted When heated to expand outwardly of the door 6 into abutment with the surface therebeneath.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 23rd day of April,

QHARLES J. BATES, JR. 

